The Washington critic., 1887-11-25
EREE TRADE TALK.

II is proposed with great earnestness by
men Ike Henry Wattefson and William Dor
sheimer, and by crowd of lesser statesmen
and newspapers, Mugwump and Democratic,
that Mr. Randall shall be degraded In Con.
gress, and that a revenue reform bill of
free trade nature shall be introduced as the
exclusive, uncompromisng ultimatum and
platform OF modern Democratic statesman
ship. This is dlscorl; II is impo-
fence; 1t is defeat; and we appeal to all level.
headed and cool 'bloodod Democrats to inter.
fere and prevent disaster. In unity there Is
,trh 9Th and victory; in division there Is
lopeless calamity and outer darkness.-[New
York Sun.
Herein lies the crucial point of the
Suns support Of the Administration.
1t is very certain that If the President
In his forthcoming message intimates
so much as an indirect assent to any
such scheme as Is here outlined, Mr..
Dana will antagonize 1t TO the best of
his aggressive ability This may not
concern the leaders in the free trade
movement or swerve them from their
purpose, assuming that such move
mentis on foot, but they should hesitate
long and ponder well. upon the eve OF
a great National contest, before they
project an issue into the canvass that
cannot fail to provoke intestinal dis
turbances of the most serious character
The Democratic party must move to
the work of revenue reform, not only
with decent respect to the opinions Of
others, but with due regard to the effect
of such proceeding upon the votes Of
States now doubtful, 1t cannot pass
through The Senate any radical tariff
measure, nor can 1t afford to distract the
House with bill upon which all
Democrats cannot stand in substantial
agreement.
The New York star, however, Is not
aware that disposition anywhere eX.
lists "to degrade any Democrats in
Congress" 1t says, and says truly.
that "the Democratic party cannot af-
ford to so before the people In the
elections of 1888 without the record of
an honest and vigorous effort to reduce
the taxes and check the accumulation
of the surplus" 1t also says, which is
important II 1t proves true:
United as to the necessity of tax reduction.
there should not be any lnsurmuuntable
difficulty In bringing all Democrats TO agree
ment on the details of revenue bill which
every sincere Democrat can honestly support.
And Colonel Mcclure of the Phila.
delphia Times scouts the idea that Mr..
Carlisle will attempt to enforce any
particular tariff policy upon the party
by the special recognition or specla
rejection of prominent men because o
their views on the tariff" His idel
of the programme as telegraphed from
Washington TO Philadelphia last nigh
is this
There will be no attempt to frame tnrli
hill or bill reducing internal taxation unit
there can be the fullest and iranKest confer
ence Of the representatives Of all shades o
conviction on the subject; there will be u 20 at
tempt made by any responsible Democrati
authority In the House or out of II 10 reyls
the tariff on any other basis than the distlnc
recognition of protection To labor, und tari
revision will be approached on the ayowe
theory OF promoting the Interests OF all gen
eral productive industries, including the pre-
lection Il the wages of labor against compel
tive industry abroad
Between revenue reform on thi
basis and the "free trade policy" whic
seems to alarm the Sun there is wild
difference, for 1t implies measure o
which Mr.. Carlisle and Mr.. Randa
can both stand and shake hands.
We shall see what we shall see.